In this post, I want to talk a little about the gear that I use with Robbie, why each is important for his job as a mobility dog, and where you can find gear. By law, you do not have to have your dog in a vest or pack that identifies him as a service dog, as stated on the ADA Service dog law FAQ page. This being said, I prefer to always work Robbie with gear on because I believe it helps to cut down on public access issues. Additionally, if Robbie were a breed that many people have problems with such as pit bulls or dobies, it might be even more prudent to have him clearly marked, especially if you are operating in an area with bans against certain breeds. Some states do require certain leashes for guide dogs, but you can read more about that here by searching for your states guidelines.
The Vest or Pack
A Quick Word About Pre-Mobility X-Rays***Before you use your dog for mobility work, many trainers will recommend that you have your dog's hips (and elbows depending on the dog) x-rayed to ensure the dog is in good health. In order to achieve the most reliable information from x-rays, dogs cannot be x-rayed until they turn 2 years old. Once you have x-rays done, you will need to have them certified by either OFA or PennHip. Some vets will do the x-rays and ship them to either OFA or PennHip, other times you will need to research for an OFA or PennHip office in your area. From what I have learned, it seems to be personal preference on which organization produces more reliable results. Talk to your vet before making a decision. Mobility/Pull HarnessPull Harness - When Robbie turns 3, he will wear the harness on the right for pulling a light cart with laundry or firewood to help me out in the house. It has D-Rings on either side for attaching a cart and uses the shoulders to pull weight, not the neck. Check out this one here. We bought a small garden cart that is fairly lightweight for this purpose. We are waiting for him to turn 3 because we want to be positive he is done growing, with strong muscles and bones. Once I being working with him on this, I will write a post about teaching your dog to pull a cart. Mobility harness - Typically only guide dogs use the hard handles with rigid vests. Mobility dogs are often used for counterbalance, and the harness that is best for their job is a shorter handle, either soft or hard, depending on their handler's needs. Robbie is using either his car harness or pulling vest for now, but we plan on getting him something with a slightly taller handle, though still soft. I only need guidance and mild stability while walking, and the soft harness works well for me. Check out mobility harnesses here. Please talk to your vet before purchasing a harness for your dog, to make sure that you are getting one that will not be detrimental to their body type and performance. Winter Coat
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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